Latching device and combination locking means



April 22, 1969 c, s, GEHR: 3,439,515-

LATCHING DEVICE AND COMBINATION LOCKING MEANS Filed Oct. 26, 1967 Sheet of2 INVENTOR. CHARLES s. qEHmE ATTQRNEY C. S. GEHRIE April 22, 1969 LATCHING DEVICE AND COMBINATION LOCKING MEANS Sheet Filed Oct. 26

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ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,439,515 LATCHING DEVICE AND COMBINATION LOCKING MEANS Charles S. Gehrie, Montclair, N.J., assignor to Presto Lock Co., Inc., Garfield, N.J., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 678,312

Int. Cl. Eb 37/16 U.S. Cl. 70-288 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A latching device having combination locking means of the dial type which includes a manually operable latching member cooperable with the hasp. The latching mem' her is constructed for cooperation with sleeves each having a flange and a flat portion, the sleeves being associated with rotatably mounted dials having indicia or numbers. On open combination, the sleeves are all oriented with their flat portions in alignment to allow movement of the latching member to latched and unlatched positions. The device is on locked combination when a flange of a sleeve is in the path of the latching member to block its movement. Resilient means associated with the latching The invention relates to latching devices having combination locking means of the dial type and is more particularly directed to improvements in devices of this kind whereby the operability of the device is retained despite efforts to tamper with the devices combination locking means.

Combination locks for luggage cases or the like have long been known, and their use has become more prevalent in recent years. One type of combination lock employs a plurality of numbered dials associated with respective sleeves, the sleeves being cooperable with a latching member which is permitted to move latched to unlatched position only when the dials are set at a predetermined or open combination. The latching member is resiliently urged toward latched position. The latching member must be moved to and held in its unlatched position to prevent its return to latched position. Provision is made to permit the owner of the case having the lock to change the combination to a combination of his own selection known only to him.

When a luggage case having a combination lock as above described is displayed in a luggage shop or a luggage department of a store, the lock is set to open combination so that prospective purchasers may have access to the interior of the case. It has been found that prospective purchasers of luggage provided with combination locks are tempted to manipulate the dials of the locks before becoming familiar with the accompanying written instructions. When luggage cases having combination locks are shipped by the luggage manufacturer to the 3,439,515 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 luggage shop or department store, the combination is set on open combination. For example, in a combination lock having three dials, the open combination may be set at 0-0-0 on the dials. This fact is indicated in the ac companying instructions, and is known to the sales personnel in the shop or store. Thus, unless the combination changing means is manipulated and the combination changed to an unknown or lost locked combination, the dials may be rotated to the known open combination.

If the luggage case is open and the combination has been changed to an unknown or lost locked combination, it is still possible to change the lock to usable open combination. This is accomplished by means to be subsequently described. On the other hand, if the luggage case has been closed and locked, with the combination unknown, it is impossible to rectify the tampering without damage to the lock. The luggage case must be returned to the manufacturer, and the lock or locks on the case must be removed from the case shells. In the course of this procedure, parts of the locks may be mutilated beyond repair, and in addition, there is the cost incurred in shipping and the expense of trying to salvage parts of the locks if not their total replacement.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a latching device having combination locking means of the dial type which is provided with means to inhibit tampering, thereby thwarting efforts to change the combination from its known open combination unless one purposefully changes the combination to a known combination of his own selection.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latching device having combination locking means wherein the device possessing the foregoing feature and advantage nevertheless is of a simple construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination lock wherein the combination cannot be lost unless one resorts to tampering of an extraordinary nature.

These, and other objects, advantages and improved results of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the combination lock of the invention, this view also showing a hasp member releasably connected thereto;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 22 of FIG 1, the latching member being shown in its latched position, but unlocked;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the latching member shown in unlatched position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, partly in cross-section, taken approximately in the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, this view however showing the latching member locked. in its latched position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 66 of FIG. 5, this view showing a sleeve, which is associated with a dial, in a position which prevents movement of the latching member;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 7--7 of FIG. 2, this view showing a sleeve in a position which,

if the other sleeves are oriented in the same way, permits movement of the latching member;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 88 of FIG. 1, this view showing the cooperation of the lock and a hasp member supported, respectively, upon wall members of a luggage case or the like; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the latching member of the device.

Referring to the drawings, a combination lock A made in accordance with the invention cooperates with a hasp member B. The hasp member may be of any suitable construction and as illustrated may be of a conventional type. Generally, the combination lock A comprises a face plate 'C, a latching member D, a back cover E, and combination means for releasably locking the latching member in latched position. As will be subsequently explained in detail, the latching member D functions to releasably connect the combination lock A to the hasp member B. In addition, the latching member is constructed to provide means cooperable with selective portions of sleeves 20 of the combination locking means, there being one sleeve associated with each dial 22. The sleeves are formed and related to cooperable means provided by the latching members either to lock the latching member in its latched position or to clear the latching slide member to enable movement of the member to unlatched position. Further, resilient means is related to the latching member to releasably maintain the member in unlatched position. In such position, wherein the lock is on open combination, the latching member cooperates with the sleeves to prevent their rotation and the rotation of the sleeves associated dials. As a result, tampering with the dials which would cause an improper change and loss of the known predetermined open combination is inhibited.

In the preferred form of the invention, and as illustrated, the latching member is in the form of a dead bolt. It is manually moved to latched position and to unlatched position, and vice versa; there is no spring acting on the member to normally urge it to latched position. It is within the scope of the invention however, to relate a spring to the latching member so that the member is normally urged to unlatched position, thereby requiring overcoming the force of the spring to move the member to latched position.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the combination locking means includes three sleeves 20 and their respective dials 22. With three dials, each having ten indicia or numbers thereon, there are 1000 different possible combinations available. It will be understood that any desired number of sleeves and associated dials may be used to furnish the desired number of available combinations.

In greater detail, and as shown in FIG. 1, each dial 22 is provided with indicia or numbers equidistantly spaced about the outer circumference. Between adjacent numbers there are means 24, such as grooves, adapted for cooperation with means provided by a spring member H, so that the dials related to their respective sleeves 20 and mounted on a shaft I may be resiliently maintained in selected circumferential position.

As more particularly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each dial 22 has a central opening 26 through which the shank 28 of a sleeve may be extended with a slight amount of clearance. The sleeve has a central bore 30 of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the shaft I. At one end thereof, each sleeve is provided with a flange 32 having a larger diameter than the central opening 26 of a dial. The flanged end of the sleeve is provided with a flat portion 34. At the junction of the flange and the sleeve shank, a detent or detents 36 are provided. On one side of each dial 22, circumferentially arranged (letent receiving recesses 38 are provided adjacent to the opening 26, there being one recess in alignment with each number on the outer circumference of the dial. The recesses 38 extend only partially into the side wall of the dial and are adapted to receive the detents 36, whereby a dial and a sleeve may be keyed or meshed to one another.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the face plate C is provided with means for securing the assembly A to a wall of a luggage case or the like. The face plate may be substantially rectangular and provided with integral rivets 40, which may be inserted through openings in corresponding portions of the associated luggage case wall W and expanded to secure the face plate, and thereby the entire combination lock A, to the wall.

The face plate C is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots 42 each of width slightly greater than the thickness of a dial 22. The dials are partially extended through the slots so as to protrude for finger engagement. Means is provided for grasping and moving the latching member to its respective latched and unlatched positions. Preferably, and as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 8, the face plate also has a central, longitudinal slot 44 through which a depending portion of a puller 46 may pass for connection to the latching member D positioned at the underside of the face plate. The puller may be a button mounted for reciprocative movement in a depression 48 of the face plate and may be coupled to the latching member D by a lost-motion coupling. Such form of coupling comprises notches 50 formed in the top edge of side walls 52 of the latching member (see FIG. 9) and a bar 54 fixed to the puller 46 transversely of the latching member, as by an integral rivet 56 passed through a corresponding opening of the bar (See FIG. 8). The bar, which straddles the slot 44, prevents removal of the puller, bridges the notches 50, and slides within the notches with free travel until the puller 46 is moved sufficiently to cause the bar to engage either end of the notches. Thereafter, the latching member moves together with the puller. As will appear more fully hereinafter, the latching member is slidably movable or reciprocates upon means provided by the back cover E or portions of the spring H supported on the back cover.

The back cover B may be connected or suspended from the face plate C in any suitable manner, for example, by providing suitable cooperable interlocking tangs and cut-outs on the parts (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a portion of the back wall 58 0f the back cover is outwardly dished to furnish room for the dials. The adjoining portions 60 and 62 are horizontally arranged and lie in the same plane. The back cover is completed by the side walls 64 and 66, and the end walls 68 and 70 (see FIG. 2). In addition to its supporting functions, the back cover serves to protect the enclosed dials, sleeves, shaft and other parts.

As previously indicated, the latching member D is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement at the underside of the face plate C. The preferred configuration of the latching slide member is shown in FIG. 9. The member is generally in the shape of an inverted U for a por-- tion of its length, there being a top wall 72 related to a portion of the side walls 52. The top Wall is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse slots 74 defined by spaced transverse bars 76 of the top wall. Side walls 52 project beyond the top wall at one end thereof to engage the puller 46, as described above, and to cooperate with the hasp member B. For the latter purpose, at least one of the side walls is provided with a notch 78 at its lower edge for receiving the hasp B. Notches in both side walls are preferred for interchangeability for left-hand and right-hand units. As shown in FIG. 1, the hasp may comprise a bar 80 smoothly curved at its free end to facilitate engagement with the latching member and provided with a notch 82 at one side thereof for receiving an ear 84 (see FIG. 9) at an end of the associated notch 78.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slots 74 of the latching member D, there being three in number when there are three dials as illustrated, are of a greater width than the slots 42 in the face plate C. The slots 74 are each of a width slightly greater than the total thickness of a dial 22 and of the flange portion 32 of a sleeve 20. With the dials and the sleeves operatively mounted on the shaft I, the flanges 32 of the sleeves adjacent to their respective dials may be positioned within the slots 74, while clearing the underside of the face plate C as shown in FIG. 6. When the flat portions 34 on all the sleeves are oriented as shown in FIG. 7, there is clearance between the flat portions 34 and the cross bars 76 of the latching slide member to allow movement of the member.

The latching slide member D is supported for reciprocable movement upon the wall portions 60 and 62 of the back cover E and also upon the marginal shoulders 86 of the dished out wall portion 58 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Preferably, and as shown, fiat portions of the dials spring H rest on the shoulders 86 and the lower edges of the walls 52 of the latching member slide on the spring portions. The latching slide member is dimensioned to fit between the face plate and the supporting portions of the back cover, and between the side walls of the back cover with sufficient clearance for its sliding movement. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sliding movement of the latching member is limited by stops 87 and 87' projecting from the underside of the face plate. Interposed between the lower edges of the side walls 52 of the latching mem her and the back cover is the resilient dial-cooperable indexing means H having a plurality of spring fingers 88, one finger for each dial. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the spring fingers are struck out and bent from a piece of spring metal. The spring member H, which is substantially rectangular in outline, is provided with openings 90 in alignment with the spring fingers to allow portions of the dials to be extended through such openings. The ends of the spring member H are positioned on the horizontal- 1y extend-ing wall portions 60 and 62 of the back cover and on the shoulders 86.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the shaft I is provided near one end with an annular flange 92 which abuts the end wall 68 of the back cover upon which one end of the shaft J is mounted. The other end of shaft J is supported upon a projection 94 extending upwardly from the bottom wall of the back cover between the side walls 52 of the latching slide member. Resilient means F for the sleeves and dials, preferably in the form of a helically coiled compression spring, is positioned over the shaft and is compressed between the adjacent sleeve 20 and the flange 92 at one end of shaft J. The sleeve cooperable spring normally urges the sleeves to the right as viewed in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, whereby the detents 36 are re ceived in selected recesses 38 of the dials to key the sleeves to their respective dials.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the end of the shaft I opposite the end upon which the spring F is mounted is extended through means 96 for disengaging the sleeves from their respective dials. Such means is preferably in the form of a lever rotatably supported on the shaft. The lever is in abutting relationship with the adjacent sleeve 20 and the shaft-supporting projection 94 of the back cover. The lever extends through a cut-out 98 in the back cover so that it may be grasped between the fingers. Cutout 98 may be L-shaped, so that the lever 96 may be moved to the left in FIGS. 2 and 3, and then rotated somewhat and releasably held in position after pushing the sleeves out of engagement with their respective dials against the force of the spring F. Then the dials may be rotated to select a new combination and the lever released to engage the sleeves with their dials again.

The lever 96 can only be moved to disengage the sleeves from their respective dials when the flat portions 34 on all of the sleeves are oriented as shown in FIG. 7. When so oriented, the sleeves clear the adjacent portions or crossbars 76 of the latching slide member. Also, as indicated previously, with such orientation of the sleeves, the lock is on open combination and the latching slide member may be moved to the right from the latched position of FIG. 2 to the unlatched position of FIG. 3 by grasping the puller and pulling or pushing in such direction.

Since latching slide member D preferably is a dead bolt; it remains in its latched position or its unlatched position when moved there and has no return spring urging it to its latched position as is common in devices of this kind. In order to positively, but releasably, maintain the latching member in its latched or unlatched position, a detent or indexing mechanism is provided by a pair of transversely spaced bumps (FIG. 4) formed on the upper surface of the face plate C and resilient means, preferably in the form of a bifurcated leaf spring 102. The leaf spring is supported by the puller 46, being compressed between the underside of the cupped puller button and the adjacent surface of the face plate. The legs of the spring 102 at the sides of slot 44 are engageable with the associated bumps 100. The puller 46 may thus be grasped and moved adjacent to either end of the depression 48 of the face plate, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the leaf spring legs at the respective sides of the bumps 100 resiliently and releasably maintaining the puller in its respective latched and unlatched positions. If desired, and as shown in FIG. 1, indicia such as L and U may be placed near each end of the depression 48 to visually indicate the respective latched and unlatched positions of the latching slide member or of the device. Accordingly, after the free travel of the puller, as described above, which prevents accidental displacement of the latching member, and this is psychologically desirable, the latching member is moved to and positively retained in its unlatched or latched position.

As described above, the latching member is mounted for movement to respective latched and unlatched positions. Cooperable means are provided by the sleeves and the latching member permitting the latching member to be moved to unlatched position only when the dials are set at a predetermined open combination. The same cooperable means which permits the latching member to be moved to unlatched position acts to prevent rotation of the sleeves, and of the dials, when the latching member is in unlatched position. As previously described, the latching member is releasably maintained in unlatched position by resilient means or indexing means.

In greater detail, when the lock is on open combination, the flat portions 34 of the sleeves 20 are all positioned as shown in FIG. 7 to permit the slide member to by-pass the sleeves. Rotation of the sleeves, and hence the dials meshed therewith, is prevented when the slide member is in its unlatched position, because in such position the crossbars 76 of the slide member cover or overlie the flat portions of the sleeves. Minimal clearance is provided between the crossbars and the flat portions of the sleeves to accommodate slight inaccuracies in the alignment of the dials, but the clearance is net sufiicient to permit the sleeves and the dials to turn when the bars 76 cover the flat portions of the sleeves. Thus, by releasably maintaining the latching member in its unlatched position, the dials are held in their open combination positions and the combination cannot be lost. Even if the combination is intentionally changed, by manipulating lever 96 to release the sleeves from the dials and then turning the dials, when the sleeves are re-engaged with the dials, the dials will be held at the new combination until the latching slide member is returned to its latched position. It is only after the latching slide member is returned to latched position, and a dial or dials rotated, that the device is locked. Then, a flange 32 on a sleeve is in the path of a cross bar 76 to prevent movement of the latching member to unlatched position; the dials must be turned to the known open combination to unlock and permit unlatching.

A curious, totally uninformed prospective customer may tamper with the lock to the extent of moving the latching slide member to latched position, manipulating the lever 96, and then rotating a dial or dials so that the open combination is changed to one he has not bothered to rememher. If the luggage case is not then closed, the latching member engaged with the hasp, and a dial then rotated to lock the case shells to one another, the device of the invention still permits opening of the lock. With the lock on a lost combination, but with the case shells not locked to one another, the underside of the device may be seen on the inside of the case shell to which it is attached.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the sleeves are each pro vided with an indicator 110 on the shank portion 28 of a sleeve. The indicator may be in the form of a slot as shown, or a spot of luminescent paint. In any event, the indicator on each sleeve is located 180 from the plane of the flat 34. As shown in FIG. 2, 3 and 5, also FIGS. 6 and 7, the back cover E is provided with apertures 112 which are in alignment with the plane of rotation of the visual indicators 110 when the combination is locked as shown in FIG. 5. The spring member H for the dials may be provided with aligned openings to assure that the indicators 110 may be sighted when viewed through the apertures 112. By sighting through the apertures and rotating the dials having the sleeves keyed thereto, the dials are rotated until one may see the visual indicator 110 on each sleeve, a condition whereby the sleeves are all oriented as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. With the combination open, the latching slide member is movable to the unlatched position shown in FIG. 3. In such condition, the lever 9-6 may be moved to disconnect the sleeves from their respective dials. Then the dials may be rotated to the secret combination chosen by the individual user.

The hasp member B, as previously indicated, may be of known construction. As shown in FIG. 8, the base of arm 80 of the hasp may be attached to a wall member W of the luggage case by means of a rivet 114 adjacent to a conventional valance strip 116. Another valance strip 118 may be provided at the edge of the mating wall member W of the luggage case, upon which the combination lock A is supported as indicated previously. As shown, the face place C supports the lock mechanism so that it is suspended in an opening in the Wall member W at a position opposite to the hasp B. The arm 80 of the hasp enters the back cover B through an opening to engage the latching member.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results afforded by the invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. Various changes and modifi cations may be made in the preferred embodiment of the invention hereinbefore described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention tas sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combination lock having a plurality of rotatable dials, a sleeve associated with each dial for rotation therewith, a latching slide member mounted for movement to respective latched and unlatched positions, cooperable means provided by the sleeves and the latching slide member permitting the latching slide member to move to unlatched position only when the dials are on predetermined open combination, said cooperable means preventing rotation of the sleeves and their dials when the latching s ide member is in unlatched position and resiliently mounted means connected to the latching slide member for releasably maintaining the latching slide member in unlatched position.

2. A combination lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein the latching member possesses a dead bolt action.

3. A combination lock as set forth in claim 2, wherein the resifiently mounted means connected to the latching slide member for releasably maintaining the latching slide member in unlatched position includes indexing means for also releasably maintaining the latching slide member in latched position.

4. A combination lock comprising a face plate having longitudinally spaced slots, a manipulatable latching member positioned beneath the face plate and supported for movement longitudinally to respective latched and unlatched positions, the latching member having spaced bars defining longitudinally spaced slots in alignment with but of greater width than the face plate slots, a longitudinally extending shaft supported beneath the bars of the latching member, dials positioned in said slots, a sleeve for each dial mounted on the shaft with the sleeves in abutting end to end relationship, each sleeve having a flange and a fiat portion, cooperable means provided by each dial and its respective sleeve for keying them together, resilient means normally urging the sleeves into keyed relationship with their respective dials, shifting means for moving the sleeves out of keyed engagement from the respective dials, the latching member in latched position allowing entry of the flanges in its slots to block movement of the latching member, the latching member by-passing the fiat portions when the dials are in predetermined open combination, each flat portion being covered by one of said bars to prevent rotation of the sleeves when the dials are in said predetermined open combination and said latching member is in unlatched position, whereby the dials are prevented from rotation when the latching member is in unlatched position, and resilient means for releasably maintaining the latching member in unlatched position.

5. A combination lock as set forth in claim 4, wherein the latching member possesses a dead bolt action.

6. A combination lock as set forth in claim 5, wherein the resilient means for resiliently maintaining the latching member in unlatched position comprises indexing means for also releasably maintaining the latching member in latched position.

7. A combination lock as set forth in claim 4, wherein the latching member has a notch for receiving a hasp.

8. A combination lock as set forth in claim 4, wherein the latching member has puller means coupled thereto by a lost-motion coupling.

9. A combination lock as set forth in claim 8, wherein the latching member has a pair of side walls and the lostmotion coupling comprises aligned notches in the side walls and a bar fixed to the puller means and slidable' along the notches to engage opposite ends thereof.

10. A combination lock as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a back cover connected to said face plate.

11. A combination lock as set forth in claim 10, wherein each of the sleeves is provided with a visual indicator and the back cover has aligned openings for viewing the indicators.

12, A combination lock as set forth in claim 11, wherein each sleeve has the visual indicator located from the flat portion.

13. A combination lock comprising a face plate having longitudinally spaced slots, a manipulatable latching member positioned beneath the face plate and supported for movement longitudinally to respective latched and unlatched positions, the latching member having a dead bolt action whereby it remains in the position to which it is moved; the latching member having spaced bars defining longitudinally spaced slots in alignment with but of greater width than the face plate slots, a longitudinally extending shaft, dials positioned in said slots, and a sleeve for each dial mounted on the shaft with the sleeves in abutting end to end relationship, each sleeve having a flange and a flat portion, the latching member in latched position allowing entry of the flanges in its slots to block movement of the latching member, the latching member bypassing the fiat portions when the dials are in predetermined open combination, each flat portion being covered by one of said bars to prevent rotation of the sleeves when the dials are in said predetermined open combination and said latching member is in unlatched position, whereby the dials are prevented from rotation when the latching member is in unlatched position.

14. A combination lock as set forth in claim 13, further comprising resilient indexing means for releasably main 9 10 taining the latching member in respective latched: and 1,867,606 7/1932 Van Sickles 70-92 unlatched positions. 2,136,493 11/1938 Denerich 70-80 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,604,866 10/1926 Wildrick 70-284 70-69, 317 

